The Role and Responsibility of the

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• The Role and Responsibility of the
• Operating Department Assistant
• in Operating Theatres

Fasie Smith Nursing Operations Manager
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I will discuss

• What is Nursing?
• The theatre environment.
• What is operating department assistance?
• Roles and responsibility of individual team
  members.

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What is nursing?

• Many definitions and theories for nursing.
• For the purpose of this discussion-
• Virginia Hendersons need theory
• The unique function of the nurse is assist the
  individual, sick or well, in the performance of
  those activities contributing to health and
  recovery (or to peaceful death) that he would
  perform unaided if he ad the necessary strength,
  will or knowledge and to do this in such a way as
  to help him gain independence as rapidly as
  possible
• How does this relate to the nurse in the theatre
  environment.

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The 14 Components of the Theory

• Breathe normally. Eat and drink adequately
• Eliminate body waste.
• Move and maintain desirable postures.
• Sleep and rest.
• Select suitable clothes dress and undress.
• Maintain body temperature within normal range by
  adjusting clothing and modifying the environment.
• Keep the body clean and well groomed and project
  from injury.
• Avoid dangers in the environment and avoid
  injury.
• Communicate with other in expressing emotions,
  needs, fears and options.
• Worship accordingly to ones faith.

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The Theatre Environment and what happen there?...

• Reception area
• Anaesthetic room
• Operating room/theatre
• Recovery room
• Disinfection and sterilization
• Equipment and consumable stores

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Definition

• The joint commission defines surgical
  technologist in its Lexikon Dictionary of
  healthcare terms, organizations and acronyms for
  the era of reform as follows
• An allied health care worker who works closely
  with surgeons, anesthetists, registered nurses
  and other staff to provide patient care and
  assuming responsibilities before, during and
  after surgery

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The Association of Surgical Technologist State
(USA)

• Services the patients interest by providing
  assistance to the surgeon.
• Predict the intra-operative needs of the surgeon.
• Has a good understanding of the basic sciences
  Anatomy, microbiology, pathophysiology and
  medic-legal practice within the theatre
  environment.
• Technical knowledge and skill to manage surgical
  equipment and instrumentation.
• Manage the surgical environment.

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The Three Phases of Surgical Management

• Pre-operative
• Intraoperative
• Postoperative

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Pre-operative Area (Specifics)

• Assist with the preparation of the operating
  room.
• Conducting a preoperative patient interview.
• Transporting the patient to the theatre.
• Verify correct patient.
• Transferring the patient to the operating table.
• Positioning the patient.
• Verify the correct surgical site.
• Prepping the patient.
• Draping.
• Connect various tubes and cords.
• Providing additional items to the surgical field
  during the procedure.
• Maintaining documentation.
• Caring for specimens.
• Securing dressings.
• Transferring patients from the operating tables.
• Transporting patient to recovery area.
• Preparing theatre for the next patient.

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Intra-operative

• Maintaining a sterile field, including the
  establishment of a neutral zone.
• Passing instrumentation, equipment and
  consumables to the surgeon and first assistant.
• Assessing and predicting (anticipating) the needs
  of the surgeon to optimally perform the surgery
  at hand.
• Preparing irrigation fluids.
• Counting checks.
• Management of specimens.
• Clearing of skin (blood and prep solutions).
• Preparing and applying dressings.

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Post-operative Period

• Maintaining a sterile field until the patient is
  transported from the theatre.
• D-assembling the sterile field.
• Removing used instruments, equipment and
  consumables from the theatre.
• Caring for and maintaining instruments, equipment
  and supplies following use.
• Prepare for next patient.
• Complete appropriate documentation.

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The Team

• Surgeon,
• Anaesthetist,
• Nurse scrub, anaesthetic and recovery area,
• Administration,
• Disinfection and sterilization,
• Pharmacist ,
• Technologist i.e. Cardiac.